OLD MICHAELMAS DAY 299 



takes you to the scene of action, and soon 

 the straggling procession of guns, loaders, 

 and keepers are making their way across 

 a broad meadow towards the row of pegs 

 that marks the line for the first drive. 

 "The drivers ain't round yet, so there's 

 no hurry," says your host, as he points 

 you out your place ; but you are very 

 conscious that your chances as an outside 

 gun may well be few and far between, 

 and that the odd bird or covey that the 

 drivers may disturb on their way round 

 are by no means to be despised. So you 

 make your arrangements without further 

 delay ; your servant, an expert loader, 

 crouching behind you, and your dog com- 

 fortably settled some ten yards off, where 

 he may be relied on to sit like a statue 

 till his turn for action comes. You give 

 your guns a look over before they are 

 loaded, slip a few cartridges into your 

 own pocket just in case any hitch occurs 

 in the loading and balanced on your 

 shooting stick all ready for action, proceed 

 to take your bearings. 



